Bill > H453

This bill proposes changes to high school graduation requirements for students with learning disabilities, specifically those identified as a "School Age Child with a Disability" under state law. It allows such students who fail to pass the required competency exams, such as the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), to still receive a standard high school diploma if they meet a comprehensive set of criteria. These criteria include being assessed, pursuing appeals, failing to achieve competency in certain subjects, and having the school superintendent certify that the student's disability is the primary reason for their failure. Additionally, the student must have participated in available remediation strategies and services, completed an educational proficiency plan, met all other graduation requirements, fulfilled their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, and either been accepted into a post-secondary educational program or successfully completed a college course in the subject area where they struggled. The bill also mandates an annual report from the commissioner of elementary and secondary education detailing the number of students with IEPs who fail exams, the outcomes of appeals, and the number of diplomas awarded under these new provisions, which will be submitted to the Joint Committee on Education.